International Muslim organizations are now strongly distancing themselves from the death threat on Lars Vilks, the artist, and chief editor Ulf Johansson (of the newspaper Nerikes Allehanda, which published a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad).

According to secretary-general Hussein Halawa, the European Council for Fatwa and Research will soon issue an international statement which will declare the death threat “haram,” or forbidden by Islam. The Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe is also trying to ensure that the conflict does not spread internationally.

These are welcome standpoints, which hopefully will have an impact on the 92 organizations around the world that will distribute that message. It is also a welcome sign that the Muslim organizations jointly condemn the death threat as an unacceptable action, which is not supported by anyone except extremists.